Last year, Fortune 500 firms, which cover a large swath of the U.S. economy including 31 non-public companies, earned a record $785 billion, up 29 percent from 2005. "Put simply,
American companies are enjoying the most sumptuously profitable period in the 500's 53-year history," said Shawn Tully, Fortune's editor at large. "Virtually every conceivable
force, from mild labor costs to a falling dollar to soaring productivity, has favored big companies."

The Fortune 500 ranks companies based on revenues. New York boasts the most Fortune 500 firms this year with 57 companies, while Texas and California took the No. 2 and 3 spots,
with 45 and 22 headquarters respectively.